Logstash
Logstash is an open-source, server-side pipeline for ingesting data, transforming it, and routing it to destinations.
What Logstash is
Logstash is an open-source, server-side pipeline for ingesting data, transforming it, and routing it to destinations. It can continuously take in logs, metrics, web application and data-store information, and data from AWS services. Filters parse events, identify fields, and transform data; features include grok parsing, IP geolocation, and anonymizing or excluding sensitive fields. Data can go to multiple outputs, with Elasticsearch a common destination. Its framework has more than 200 input, filter, and output plugins, and custom plugins can be built using its API and plugin generator. Persistent queues provide at-least-once delivery for in-flight events if nodes fail, while a dead letter queue can hold events for inspection and replay. Monitoring and Pipeline Viewer features show pipeline performance and availability. Logstash is self-hosted, with Linux packages and Docker among the listed installation options. The default distribution costs nothing under the Elastic License. The download page lists version 9.5.5, released October 6, 2026; hosted deployment on Elastic Cloud Serverless has a 14-day trial.
Good
- Ingests logs, metrics, and other data sources.
- Offers more than 200 plugins.
- Routes data to multiple outputs.
- Persistent queues support at-least-once delivery.
- Free default distribution under the Elastic License.
Watch out
- Self-hosted deployment is the listed option.
- The free distribution is governed by the Elastic License.
Who it suits
Logstash suits teams that need to collect, parse, transform, and route data through self-hosted pipelines. It may also fit organizations that need plugin-based customization or event queues for failure handling.
Verdict
Logstash brings data ingestion, parsing, transformation, and routing into one pipeline framework. Its self-hosted format and Elastic License are important considerations before adopting it.
Plans and prices
From Logstash's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Logstash default distribution | Free | Full set of free features · governed by the Elastic License |
The facts
Each one read from Logstash's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Archive export
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Compliance
- Elastic's Trust Center lists certifications and standards including FedRAMP, PCI DSS, ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, and HIPAA.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment options
- self-hostedchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Installation
- The download page lists Linux x86_64, apt and yum package managers, and Docker containers.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Elastic describes turn-key integrations for connecting data sources and ingesting logs, metrics, traces, files, web content, and security events.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Live log tailing
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Log pipelines
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Monitoring
- Monitoring and Pipeline Viewer features let users observe an active Logstash node or deployment, including pipeline performance and availability.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Outputs
- Logstash can route data to multiple outputs, with Elasticsearch identified as a common destination.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Parsing and transformation
- Filters parse events, identify fields, and transform data; features include grok parsing, IP geolocation, and anonymizing or excluding sensitive fields.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- Its pluggable framework includes over 200 input, filter, and output plugins, and custom plugins can be built using its API and plugin generator.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Logstash is an open source server-side data processing pipeline that ingests data from multiple sources, transforms it, and sends it to a destination.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Release
- The download page lists version 9.5.5, released October 6, 2026.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Reliability
- Persistent queues provide at-least-once delivery for in-flight events if nodes fail, and a dead letter queue can hold events for inspection and replay.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- The product page says ingest pipelines can be secured and describes built-in security features for Pipeline Management UI controls.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Streaming inputs
- It can continuously ingest logs, metrics, web application data, data store data, and data from various AWS services.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Structured log parsing
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Support resources
- The product page directs users to Logstash documentation and a community forum for questions.checked 9 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Trial
- The download page offers a 14-day free trial for deploying Logstash hosted on Elastic Cloud Serverless, with no credit card required.checked 9 Oct 2026
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